Podgorica, (MINA) – Montenegro’s EU accession is an investment in security, stability and peace, Austrian Defense Minister Klaudia Tanner said, adding that Austria will continue to support Montenegro on its European path through training programs, bilateral and regional projects.

 

Speaking at a joint press conference with her Montenegrin counterpart Dragan Krapovic, Tanner stressed the cooperation between Montenegro and Austria in joint professional training, as well as the partnership in the field of mountain warfare, and numerous other projects.

 

She remarked that Austria is looking forward to welcoming new cadets and officers from Montenegro at the country’s military academy.

 

Tanner stressed that Austria supports the Western Balkans’ accession to the EU, because, as she said, this is an important contribution to the stability of the wider European environment and a key step in preventing future conflicts, especially in the light of today’s international crises.

 

According to her, Montenegro’s EU accession is an investment in security, stability and peace.

 

Krapovic said that Tanner’s visit to Montenegro confirms the long-standing friendly relations between Austria and Montenegro.

 

He said that they discussed the geopolitical circumstances and substantive bilateral defense cooperation, which is at a very high level.

 

Krapovic pointed out that Austria’s consistent and continued support for the European perspective of Montenegro and the entire Western Balkans is of immeasurable importance.

 

He assessed that EU enlargement is, above all, a geopolitical investment in the stability and security of Europe itself.

 

“We agreed that today’s challenges we are facing can only be successfully overcome through partnership, dialogue, joint action and close cooperation”, said Krapovic.

 

He thanked Tanner for the initiative to establish a Western Balkans defense and security studies college.

 

Asked by the press whether there had been any new developments regarding the negotiations with Croatia regarding the Jadran training ship, Krapovic said that a Commission had been formed and held only one session so far.

 

Krapovic said that he was confident that these talks would be conducted in “good faith, in a spirit of alliance and partnership with Croatia”.

 

He added that there is awareness in both countries, Croatia and Montenegro, but also in Brussels, about the importance of the EU enlargement process.

 

He expressed confidence that the outcome would be favorable for Montenegro and that the country would still join the EU in 2028, even if some of the open issues remain unresolved.